Mechan shortlisted for innovation award
The unique nature of the products made by Sheffield-based rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is being celebrated by the city’s manufacturing community.
Mechan is one of five firms shortlisted in the manufacturing innovation category at this year’s Made in Sheffield Awards.
The firm has been selected for the accolade, which recognises the impact of an innovative product or process, after producing a bespoke bogie drop for Norwich’s Crown Point rail depot. The firm’s skilled design team created the equipment to allow complete bogies and other underfloor modules on trains to be changed without decoupling, meaning they can return to service more quickly.
Winners of the Made in Sheffield Awards will be announced at a special dinner held on April 28 at the city’s Cutler’s Hall, bringing together competitors from across the S postcode.
Lindsey Mills, Mechan’s sales manager, said: “We are thrilled to make the finals of the Made in Sheffield Awards, which celebrate the world class manufacturing taking place in our region. There is no other UK company providing the same bespoke design service to the rail industry as Mechan and the Crown Point project demonstrates perfectly the high level of engineering skill and expertise we possess. We fly the flag for Sheffield at home and overseas and hope the judges recognise our commitment to promoting the local manufacturing industry.”
Construction starts on £29.5m Leeds student development
Alumno Group (Alumno), purpose-built student accommodation specialist (PBSA), and Heitman LLC (Heitman), a global real estate investment management firm, have begun the regeneration of a disused site in Whitelock Street, north of Leeds city centre, starting construction on a student scheme.
The development, valued at £29.5 million, has been designed by Durham-based architecture practice, Howarth Litchfield, which has worked with Alumno from pre-planning stage on proposals to demolish several vacant buildings on the site in preparation for its full re-development.
Built over six and seven storeys with a gross internal area of 11,840 sq m, the building will host 411 beds with ground floor commercial and cultural uses.
It will contain a mixture of cluster flats and studios, including ten accessible bedrooms, an entrance hub with communal space, offices, a meeting room, laundry and gym.
At ground floor level there is also flexible gallery and studio space which will be used to support local artists and will feature workshops, a kiln and exhibition area. It will be run by a local non-profit organisation.
At roof level there is a terrace with an innovative specially planted biodiversity area featuring further communal study spaces and a cinema room.
Howarth Litchfield’s Managing Director, architect, Jonathan Yates, said: “We have collaborated closely with the Alumno team from the outset, and following a successful planning outcome, we were subsequently novated to provide a D&B role throughout the construction programme following GMI Construction’s appointment as preferred contractor in April 2021.
“We are absolutely delighted to be involved again on such a notable student accommodation scheme with Alumno, who are well known for their high quality – high yield PBSA projects. Also, from a planning perspective, it is satisfying to be able to bring a disused site back to life in an up-and-coming area of the city.”
David Lindsay, Alumno’s development manager, said: “Alumno strives to shape communities with innovative student accommodation schemes that really raise the bar for student living and this is no exception with its public art space on the ground floor, which we see as being a tremendous asset to the local community as well as adding interest for visitors and the students who live there. Placemaking is a key driver in our designs and ensuring everything we do brings value back to the local community is central to who we are.”
Andrew Hurcomb, divisional managing director of GMI Construction Group, added: “We are proud to continue our relationship with Alumno with this latest project, which will be a significant part of supporting Leeds’ growing position as a major university city.
“After completing the first three months of the 80-week build programme, which were spent demolishing the three existing buildings, we have now laid the concrete foundations and are commencing with the piling for the new development, which will contribute to the ongoing regeneration of this area of Leeds.”
RPS, global professional services firm, was responsible for submitting the planning application and has subsequently been appointed project manager, cost consultant, principal designer and BREEAM assessor.
Texas automation specialist acquires Yorkshire business
Texas-based Sensia, the automation specialist in oil & gas production, transportation, and processing, has acquired Malton-headquartered Swinton Technology, a market leader in metering supervisory systems and measurement expertise in the oil and gas industry.
The acquisition will incorporate Swinton Technology products and solutions into the Sensia portfolio, expanding Sensia’s metering opportunities and measurement domain expertise to support accelerating its customers on their digital transformation journey.
Sensia, a joint venture owned by Rockwell Automation and Schlumberger, provides hardware, software, systems and petrotechnical expertise to automate processes and workflows throughout the oil and gas industry.
Swinton Technology systems generate measurement data for fiscal and financial transactions throughout the oil and gas supply chain. The acquisition provides Sensia with an asset it can incorporate into its measurement business, contributed by Schlumberger.
“Measurement is the core of oil and gas automation, and fiscal measurement is our customers’ mechanism for revenue, billing and loss management,” said Allan Rentcome, Chief Executive Officer, Sensia. “Customers are demanding integrated automation, measurement and digital solutions and Swinton Technology provides us with technology and expertise that will expand Sensia’s growth in the metering systems market.”
“There is a large customer installed base that needs to upgrade its measurement data systems to improve performance,” said Ben Leach, Swinton Technology Managing Director. “There are also metering system providers without supervisory capability. With its global reach and oil and gas expertise, Sensia will now be able to better serve this market. I’m confident that under Sensia’s ownership, Swinton Technology products and solutions will improve their market share.”
Swinton Technology will be known as Swinton Technology, a Sensia company.
Wakefield Council to launch bid for up to £20m from next round of Levelling Up Fund for investment in Knottingley
Wakefield Council has announced that it will launch a bid for up to £20 million from the next round of Levelling Up Fund to part fund investment in Knottingley.
The new round of funding was announced by government in the Spring Budget.
Proposals have been drawn up to rejuvenate Hill Top town centre to position it as a vibrant retail centre and a thriving place that works for the local community, and which builds a fairer future for residents and local businesses.
Proposals include a new town square with new retail units which will be the catalyst for further investment in Hill Top in the future, including the delivery of new homes.
The Levelling Up funding would also go towards the delivery of the Knottingley Community Hub at Kellingley Club plus external leisure and play space and improving connections from the Hill Top retail centre to the Kellingley Club and the Knottingley and Goole Canal.
Cllr Darren Byford, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Property, said: “We have done extensive consultations and surveys with the Knottingley community and have listened to their wishes and understood their desires. We know that there is a lot of support for investment in Kellingley Club and the Hill Top area and this is important for existing residents as well as planning for future growth in the Knottingley area.”
The proposals are delivering on what residents, businesses and local interest groups have said they wanted to see through extensive consultations and surveys.
In those surveys, the community asked for three main things: a Vibrant Retail Centre, Active Health and Wellbeing and Active Travel and Green Infrastructure. These have all been brought together in the project proposals for the LUF bid.
Those consultations shaped the content of the Knottingley Masterplan which was adopted by Cabinet in January 2021.
The public will have the opportunity in late Spring to provide feedback on the proposals, to allow the Council to fine tune them for the application to the Levelling Up Fund.
The development of the Knottingley Community Hub at Kellingley Club is already benefiting from £1million of government funding through the Getting Building Fund and £3million from the Council.
The Council is currently tendering for a contractor to start work on The Greenhouse which is to host community activities and Council services.
Streets Chartered Accountants breaks down the Spring Statement 2022
Streets Chartered Accountants breaks down the Spring Statement, with a handy guide, reactions and deep dives.
The Spring Statement, did it really create a sense of spring and sunnier days ahead?
The government has been reprimanded for releasing details of Budgets and Statements in advance of their hearing in the House. It would seem then such advice was heeded in the case of the Spring Statement, delivered in the House on 23rd March 2022. Little was known of what we might hear in advance. Though perhaps some may feel there was nothing to release or leak?
Read more here.
Streets’ Guide to The Spring Statement 2022
Streets Chartered Accountants’ guide to the Spring Statement provides an overview of the updated financial forecasts for the UK economy and public finances. Following the announcements, Streets have put together a report containing the latest tax and financial information.
Read more and download the guide here.
Corporate tax partner Luke Prout takes a deeper look at the Spring Statement and what it will mean for business owners, company directors and individuals
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has presented his Spring Statement in Parliament and whilst sparse when compared to previous statements, he made some key announcements that impact both individuals and businesses immediately and in the not-too-distant future.
Read more here.
Ten Sheffield high streets set to receive £500k investment
Local businesses in ten areas across Sheffield are set to benefit from more than £500,000 investment in their high streets.
Sheffield City Council has announced further areas which will be supported by its Economic Recovery Fund, a grant set up in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to support local high streets and hard-hit sectors.
Project groups, led by businesses, councillors and community groups, have put forward ideas to increase footfall and encourage Sheffielders to explore their local high streets, as well as discover new areas of the city.
The successful areas are:
There are also two city centre projects that have been awarded funding, led by Site Gallery and Angel Street Kinema, based at the successful Kommune co-working space.
Councillor Paul Turpin, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills and Chair of the Economic Recovery Fund Steering Group, said: “Across Sheffield we have a fantastic retail and hospitality offer but it’s been a tough time and many businesses are not out of the woods yet. I’m delighted that there are so many committed businesses out there working for the benefit of the wider business community. I also hope that encouraging businesses to work in collaboration in this way, with the Council enabling and facilitating, is something we can continue into the future.”
The successful projects will deliver a mix of new street furniture, events, marketing and promotion, new street trees and Christmas lights – with each area designing their own project to fit the local character and needs.
These areas join those already announced in Hillsborough, Firth Park, Walkley, Broomhill and Totley, alongside events delivered last summer during the award nominated Summer in the Outdoor City programme to complete the full set of projects supported.
The Council has also committed to funding Business Information Officers for another year, until March 2023, through the Economic Recovery Fund. The team of six experts have proved vital in providing not only Covid safety guidance but also ‘business saving’ and growth advice to businesses in extremely difficult trading conditions.
Lisa Birkett, owner of Happy Hare independent fabric shop and member of Station Road Business Forum, Chapeltown, said: “Being part of this project has brought us all together and made us really think about the things that could make a difference here. We all have been hard hit and want to encourage people to shop locally across the area. It’s been hard work, but I hope people locally and beyond will come and see what we are about and support us.”
Richard Botham, of Changing Hands Community Interest Company, led the Woodhouse bid and said: “It was really important for us to breathe new life into our market square and bring it back into the use for which it was intended. The Economic Recovery Fund has enabled us to plan events across the coming year, which we hope will complement and enhance the businesses in Woodhouse and bring new people to spend their money locally. Our first event is a Spring Market on Saturday 26th March – I can’t wait to see the reaction and I really hope it brings everyone together locally.”
And it doesn’t stop there, a further £2million has been allocated in the 2022/23 budget to continue support for Sheffield high streets outside the city centre.
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Wakefield bids to become new home of Great British Railways
Wakefield Council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has submitted a formal bid to become the new national headquarters of Great British Railways.
The bid is backed by Tracy Brabin the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Councillor Denise Jeffery Leader of Wakefield Council, alongside Leaders of all the West Yorkshire Local Authorities.
It sets out why Wakefield and West Yorkshire’s strong pool of talent, location, railway heritage, and opportunities to further support the regeneration of Wakefield’s city centre make it the ideal home for Great British Railways.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Our region played a significant role in the birth of commercial rail in the UK, so I am happy to support Wakefield’s bid to be the headquarters of Great British Railways.
“Securing Great British Railways for Wakefield will be a powerful driver for the city’s recovery from the pandemic, bringing high value, well-paid jobs to the region.
“It will also give West Yorkshire a powerful voice in setting the national agenda for rail travel and support my priority to improve rail across the region and ensure we have a transport network fit for the 21st century.”
Cllr Darren Byford, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Growth and Property, said: “With the backing of the West Yorkshire Mayor and the region’s leaders we are delighted to be bidding for such an opportunity, that aims to bring the headquarters and lots of well paid jobs to Wakefield.
“We have great connectivity, exciting regeneration plans for our city, and two city centre stations connecting to London in under two hours. Our proposed Headquarters site is located a short distance from the train stations, allowing us to provide sustainable travel options for visitors and staff members.
“The district also benefits from quality housing at very competitive pricing, offering a great quality of life for residents and potential new employees. With millions of people living within a 20-mile commute of the city centre, Wakefield offers access to skilled workforce within a short commute.”
Locating the headquarters in Wakefield would give Great British Railways access to strong talent with the largest pool of graduates in the North and the second largest pool of rail talent in the UK.
Within West Yorkshire, Wakefield is an excellent location to access some of the strongest rail engineering expertise in the UK, including the rail clusters in Doncaster, Darlington, York and Leeds, complimented by world-leading rail research facilities at the universities of Leeds and Huddersfield.
The bid proposes the planned office redevelopment on the grounds of the historic Westgate rail station in the heart of Wakefield city centre as GBR’s new headquarters.
This would offer access to the East Coast Mainline, and provide a highly accessible location at the centre of the UK’s rail network, as well as acting as a catalyst for further investment in Wakefield city centre.
Securing Great British Railways would also reconnect the city with its long and proud rail heritage. Wakefield was home to the world’s first public railway and rail wagon and carriages were manufactured in the city for over 130 years.
From 2023, Great British Railways will be a state-owned public body overseeing rail transport in Great Britain. It will operate rail infrastructure, control the contracting of train operations, set of fares and timetables, and collection fare revenue in most of England.
In October, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a competition to find a suitable location for Great British Railways outside of London.
The location of the headquarters for Great British Railways is a flagship investment by UK government and provides a once in a generation opportunity to level up towns and cities in the North.
If Wakefield is successfully shortlisted in May, the public will then have the opportunity to cast their vote for Wakefield as their preferred location.
Lincolnshire’s Property & Business Investment Expo gathers pace
Lincolnshire’s free to attend Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo returns on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln.
Business Link Magazine is a proud partner of the well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets.
Opening at 9am, the expo will also host a seminar, and as the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online.
Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Tina King, of Business Shows Group, said: “It’s been a long time in the making thanks to the pandemic, but we are finally nearly there, The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is gearing up to be one of the best to date!”
To attend the event, register for free here.
To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here.
Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here.
Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.
Lincolnshire foundry expands with £250,000 funding package
Grimsby-based specialist engineering company, Fowler & Holden, is set to expand its manufacturing facilities and invest in new machinery following a £250,000 funding package from HSBC UK.
The support from HSBC will allow Fowler & Holden to significantly expand its facilities through the addition of new and repurposed factory space, with the additional space being used to house a new second moulding line and a new plant room – in turn, increasing the privately-owned company’s production capacity by up to 80 per cent and creating up to 14 new jobs.
In addition, the funding from HSBC UK will enable investment in new equipment, which includes a sand recycling machine that will allow the business to re-use 95 per cent of the sand from its casting process, substantially reducing wastage. As a result, there will be a reduced need for sand quarrying, and fewer HGVs will be required for transportation, significantly reducing traffic and CO2 emissions in Grimsby town centre.
Tim Brooksbank, director of Fowler & Holden, said: “The support from HSBC UK has been invaluable in allowing us to fulfil the requirements to secure our domestic supply chain through the expansion of our facilities and investment into a second moulding line.
“Increased government investment into infrastructure coupled with rising international delivery costs has meant that there is more demand for our products and this funding from HSBC will allow us to grow our business domestically and create new jobs to benefit the local economy.
“We’re also extremely proud to be reducing our environmental impact as a result of the support, proving that foundries and manufacturing facilities can also contribute to sustainability.”
Theodora Akuffo, business banking relationship manager at HSBC UK, added: “Fowler & Holden has demonstrated a clear commitment to manufacturing quality products in a more sustainable manner whilst growing its business in a way that benefits the local community, and we look forward to contributing to its future success.”
Carter Towler to assist with Yorkshire Cancer Research’s ambitious expansion
Carter Towler has been appointed by Yorkshire Cancer Research to help the charity fund vital research in Yorkshire through further expansion of its network of shops.
Yorkshire Cancer Research recently started to expand its shop network, and this is already raising hundreds of thousands of pounds to help fund life-saving research in Yorkshire.
The chartered surveyors have been tasked by the charity to find five suitable retail units per year for the next three years.
Commenting on the new instruction, Carter Towler’s Max Vause said: “We first got involved with Yorkshire Cancer Research a couple of months ago when they decided to take over the tenancy of a property we were marketing at The Arcade in Ripon. They explained they were trying to find more similar retail units and asked us to help.
“We are delighted to be working for them; they are the biggest independent regional cancer research charity and have funded hundreds of millions of pounds of research since they were founded in 1925. Our property searches will aim to identify retail premises across Yorkshire. We’re looking for properties that offer high footfall, where there will be high quality stock donations and access to plenty of volunteer staff.”
Tony Graham, head of retail at Harrogate-based Yorkshire Cancer Research, added: “Our shops play a vital role in our fundraising and we are extremely fortunate to have built up a very loyal customer and volunteer base. By having Carter Towler working with us we will be able to scale-up our retail operations quickly and efficiently. By 2025 we are aiming to have 20 outlets.”
Yorkshire Cancer Research is a registered charity that funds pioneering research to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire. The charity aims to save 2,000 lives from cancer every year in Yorkshire and is committed to funding £10m of research each year to achieve this. The charity funds experts who pioneer early cancer diagnosis and discover new and better treatments for people with cancer.
